Students Poetry Writing Prompts

Write a heartfelt poem to someone who doesn’t know they had an impact on you, telling them anonymously how they made a difference in your life.

You are lying in the grass staring up at a multitude of stars in the night sky. Write a poem about what you imagine life on a distant planet to be like.

You are out walking when you see a person sitting alone on a bench under a Willow tree, crying. Write a poem about them.

This could be written as though you are observing the person but not interacting, or as though you have approached the person and offered to help.

Write a Crybin about a beautiful summer's day.

A Crybin is a variation of an Italian sonnet, with the rhyme structure ABBA CDDC EFG EFG.

Write a poem from the point of view of an unwilling debutante being presented at court.

How would this young character feel about being introduced to their society?

'Who’s left to trust?'

Write a poem that closes with this line.

Write a poem that dives deeply into human strength (physical or emotional).

Choose a specific style of poetry, and literary devices that would be suitable for this theme.

Imagine you are walking through a busy, vibrant, unfamiliar city in the middle of the night.

Write a poem about your surroundings and how it makes you feel.

Write a poem about saying goodbye to someone who you are excited to see go.

How might you use poetic form to highlight the emotions of this usually sad scenario?

'He shut the door wide open'

Write a poem ending with this line. How can you set up the poem so that this final metaphor makes sense?

You have just bumped into your childhood sweetheart at a coffee shop. Write a poem about the experience.

Write a poem from the point of view of a student daydreaming during an exam.

Choose a specific style of poetry that would be suitable for this prompt.